Claire’s Parent Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to ultimately determine, based on known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they have to obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the treatment suggested by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of treatment can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options , as well as the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other cases, patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health care professionals. Under these circumstances the patient is said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. A family member or court appointed representative can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not able to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Claire’s Parent Consent Form
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with not accepting any treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must been discussed by the patient. This way, he she will fully understand the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might be arising.